The Leadership Initiatives Team

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Leadership Initiatives was created to empower men, women, and children around the world to determine their own futures, and to help break the cycles of poverty and dissatisfaction that plague so many communities worldwide. It also involves students in the United States by connecting our future leaders with those in other countries who have discovered, through Leadership Initiatives' programs, their ability to lead. Over the past decade, with Marshall as Executive Director, Leadership Initiatives has grown to help create and expand 115 independent businesses, raise over 1.5 million dollars for business creation in developing communities.

Marshall has extensive development experience working in the South African Parliament and has independently created several community development programs on the continent of Africa.

Marshall graduated with honors from American University in 2004 with a Bachelor's Degree in both International Relations and Political Science, as well as a specialized certification in Leadership. During his freshman year, he participated in American University's Freshman Service Experience. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a focus on Non-Profit Management from American University.

Executive Director

mbailly@lichange.org

Marshall Bailly

Jessica earned a master’s degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in International Development from American University. In addition to her degrees, she holds a teaching certificate in Maryland and an International TEFL certificate.

Jessica has held teaching positions around the world, including Baltimore, MD, Seoul, South Korea, Mcleod Ganj, India, and Nairobi, Kenya. She has also worked for several non-profit organizations such as Creative Alliance, LHA Charitable Trust, Education Promise, and the Millennium Cities Initiative.

Jessica Bailly is the Youth Development Program Director. She works directly with our experts and educators to create real-world educational experiences for our students. Jessica believes that students of any age are capable of making a difference in the world. This belief is what lead Jessica to Leadership Initiatives.

Youth Development Programs Director

Jessica Bailly

jbailly@lichange.org

Since Umar’s promotion to his current role with LI - Nigeria, the organization’s national branch has grown significantly, becoming a locally registered non-profit with recognition and repute both in the Bauchi State, where it is located and more widely in Nigeria. Umar has guided LI –Nigeria in countless projects benefitting and uplifting local communities. Umar anchors the structure of the LI - Nigeria office in its administration, finance operations, personnel management, and the day-to-day running of all programs and projects.

Umar joined Leadership Initiatives - Nigeria as Project Officer in 2009 and was promoted to Project Manager in 2014. In 2016, he became Program Director of Business Creation and Expansion, overseeing the full scope of LI’s Nigerian office and its daily operations.

Umar Muhammad is a Cisco-certified Computer Hardware Engineer who serves as Program Director of Business Creation and Expansion for Leadership Initiatives’ (LI) Nigerian operations. Umar’s resume credits include employment with Maida Business Center (2002) and African Petroleum Business Center (2004).

Youth Development Programs-International Director

Umar Muhammad

umuhammad@lichange.org

Lauren is excited to continue planning Leadership Initiatives 2021 programs and looks forward to working with all the participants.

Lauren has worked with Leadership Initiatives for over three years and has continuously held a leadership role with running the internship program, being an IIP facilitator, and working as the head of logistics at the summer programs. She brings a strong background which includes grant writing, stewardship activities, fundraising strategies, and donor relations.

Lauren is the Director of Operations and has the overall responsibility of ensuring Leadership Initiatives' Youth Development Programs are an enriching, fun, and educational experience for everyone involved. She has been involved in the development of numerous new programs including the Advanced Neuroscience Summit, and the National Security & Intelligence Summit.

Lauren Hensel

lhensel@lichange.org

Professor Stiles holds a Ph.D. in political science from Boston University, a JD from Northeastern University, an MA in Spanish literature from New York University, and a BA in Spanish from Southern Methodist University. She currently is working on an effort to promote well-being among students. She believes if we are truly serious about changing the world for the better, we must be at our best, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Professor Stiles specializes in courses on law and social entrepreneurship. She regularly partners with both the law school and the business school. Professor Stiles has won numerous awards for her teaching and student engagement.

Sarah Stiles joined the Georgetown University sociology faculty in 2007. Prior to that she taught at American University for eight years where she was Director of the Leadership Program in the School of Public Affairs. She met Marshall Bailly at American and has been proud to work with him ever since.

LI Georgetown Education Director/Georgetown University-Professor of Law & Sociology

Sarah C. Stiles, Ph.D., JD

stiles@lichange.org

The author of over 260 publications in neuroscience and neuroethics, 7 books, and 13 government whitepapers on neurotechnology, ethics, and biosecurity, he is an Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Philosophy, Ethics and Humanities in Medicine; and Associate Editor of the Cambridge Quarterly of Health Care Ethics.

Dr. Giordano currently serves as an appointed member of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Advisory Council on Human Research Protections (SACHRP), is a Researcher and Task Leader of the European Union Human Brain Project.

James Giordano, Ph.D., MPhil, is Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Biochemistry, Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics, and Co-director of the O'Neill-Pellegrino Program in Brain Science and Global Health Law and Policy at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.

LI Advanced Neuroscience Internship-Education Director

Dr. James Giordano

jgiordano@lichange.org

She was a contributing author in two white papers for the Joint Staff on applications of cognitive neuroscience for national defense and intelligence.

Dr. Wurzman previously served as an Intern in the Science Division of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, and an independent contractor for the World Technology Evaluation Center in support of the National Nanotechnology Coordinating Center.

Rachel Wurzman Ph.D. is a Fellow with the Center for Neuroscience and Society and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neurology with the Laboratory for Cognition and Neural Stimulation at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

LI Advanced Neuroscience Internship-Assistant Director

Dr. Rachel Wurzman

rwurzman@lichange.org

Serving as a medical officer at Defence headquarters, Dr. Aisha plays a major role as the lead doctor in diagnosing, treating, and counseling patients.

Dr. Aisha has so far led an impressive career as a medical doctor and in her 3rd year of being in the medical field. She is a doctor that has always received excellent feedback from her employers in Nigeria, Germany, and Hungary.

For over 8 years, Dr. Aisha Garba has been a noteworthy medical Student in Zamfara. Dr. Aisha Garba has been honored with a certificate of honor for outstanding performance during her graduation. She holds a degree from the University of Szeged, Hungary, one of the most prominent higher education institutions in Central Europe.

LI Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship-Education Director

Dr. Aisha Garba

agarba@lichange.org

Beginning with the 2017 Fall Term at Radford University in Virginia Mr. Capps was appointed an Adjunct Professor and taught a Junior-Senior Seminar titled “Terrorism and Homeland Security Issues.” During the 2018 Spring Term, he taught “US Intelligence and Federal Law Enforcement: 1776 – Present.”

He has extraordinary knowledge of cases and events relating to counterterrorism and counterintelligence and is able to speak on numerous different topics, many of which are taken directly from his past experiences as an FBI agent.

One of the country's leading instructors and advocates for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and security awareness education, Mr. Capps is sought after by organizations to provide insight on issues relating to our national security.

LI National Intelligence & Security Internship Director

Rusty Capps

rcapps@lichange.org

Professor Aranyi is the co-lead researcher on "Music, Trauma and the Breath", a Northwestern University global research project which was awarded funding through the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs. In her private practice, Professor Aranyi works with corporations and individuals on how to maximize their potential and fulfill their vision.

Professor Heather Aranyi is on faculty at Northwestern University’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She has created a unique construct and methodology for helping entrepreneurs to distinguish themselves and maintain a prosperous career.

She works with students from the foundational course, Principles of Entrepreneurship to the Capstone course, Launching Your Brand. Her classes are consistently reviewed as among the best classes on campus and are full with waiting lists.

Faculty, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Northwestern University

Professor Heather Aranyi

haranyi@lichange.org

Jake enjoys working with the students and business owners of Leadership Initiatives in any capacity that he can.

Jake is a tenured professor of communication studies at Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Kalamazoo Michigan where he teaches courses on public speaking, interpersonal relationships, and organizational/intercultural communication.

Jacob Arndt is the Chief Academic Advisor who works with staff, students and parents to design and implement a challenging curriculum for experiential summer programs. Jacob believes that one of life’s greatest teachers is overcoming challenges.

Academic & Education Advisor

jarndt@lichange.org

Jacob Arndt Ph.D.

Max has helped over 1,500 Leadership Initiatives students gain entrance to college. Through his management of the college benefits program, Max has assisted Leadership Initiatives students in receiving over $5 million in financial aid over the next four years.

Max has worked with Leadership Initiatives for nearly three years. Max has extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising, organizational management, business and economic development, and curriculum writing.

Max Derbyshire is the Youth Development Programs Manager and has the overall responsibility of facilitating Leadership Initiatives’ Youth Development Program materials and curriculum development as well as overseeing the International Business Internship Program.

Youth Development Programs Assistant Director

Max Derbyshire

mderbyshire@lichange.org

Blake a Sophomore at UCLA, where she is majoring in Business Economics with an Accounting minor. At UCLA, Blake is heavily involved in the Rock Climbing Team and is on the Board as treasurer, she spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors, hiking, climbing or snowboarding.

Blake Spreeman is the registration and Accounts Manager with Leadership Initiatives. She works throughout the year to track expenses and payments as well as plan future spending.

Blake has worked with Leadership Initiatives for over four years, as a student in both the International Internship Program and our Youth Development programs, an intern, and a staff member. She began as a Sophomore on her high school's IBIP team and joined the LI internship team in September 2017.

Registration and Accounts Manager

Blake Spreeman

bspreeman@lichange.org

He seeks to not only make a living but make a difference. He joined Leadership Initiatives because he knows with what they are doing, they can change the world one community at a time. For him, it is all about legacy.

He is passionate about people and strongly believes in giving back to his community. Over the last decade, he has inspired both businesses and individuals, and most especially youth. An award-winning entrepreneur and business strategist with a passion for startups, and development and growth in Nigeria.

Glory is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (BSc Geology) and has a diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Glory is a Thinking School Africa fellow, Young African Leadership Initiative Fellow, leadership mentor, and coach.

International Business Partnerships Coordinator

Glory Nuhu Dadi

gdadi@lichange.org

Auwal have attended several pieces of training/courses with various institutions/organizations such as; UNICEF, USAID, Global Health, SDG

Auwal had worked with a multinational telecommunication industry for seven (7) years as a customer service professional before joining Leadership Initiatives (LI), he is a member of the "Association of Business Practitioners” (ABP), “Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Young African Leaders Initiatives (YALI).

Auwal graduated from the University of Maiduguri where he studied Agriculture-Education (Double Hons.), he also has a master degree in International Affairs & Strategic Studies and a Diploma in Human Resources (HR).

International Translation Team Lead

Mohammed Auwal Yakubu

myakuba@lichange.org

Rashida's passion towards community development, rendering social services and empowering the less privilleged led her to join LI Team as Assistant Program Director- Nigeria

Rashida graduated from University of Maiduguri with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry; she served in Government Girls College Bauchi, Bauchi State - Nigeria under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Program in 2011. She worked with United Bank For Africa (UBA) as an assistant to Customer Service Officer in 2015 under Graduate Internship Scheme (Sure-P GIS).

Student Relations Manager

Rashida Abba Kasim

Currently, Tamar is working with Leadership Initiatives as the Student Development Coordinator– Nigeria. Tamar is excited about the opportunity to impact the lives of orphans in my care.

She started working with Leadership Initiatives as a volunteer because of the change and impact LI is making in the lives of the people of the local communities.

Tamar Davou Dinju is a graduate of Business Education, majoring in Management at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (A.T.B.U) Bauchi Nigeria. Her passion for humanitarian development stemmed from her experience at Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), an NGO in Abuja where Tamar served as a finance/administrative assistant in the year 2011-2013.

Student Development Coordinator

Tamar Davou Dinju

As an intern, Morgan helped design both of the Medical Programs through her assistance in creating the schedules, arranging the student manuals and materials, and creating the curriculum by collaborating with some of the nation's top doctors.

Morgan has worked with Leadership Initiatives for over four years, beginning as a student at a Youth Development Program when she was a rising sophomore in high school.

Morgan Biele is the Assistant Director of the Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Medical Programs and is responsible for helping to coordinate both the Advanced Medical and Public Health Summit and the Advanced Medical Neuroscience Summit.

Youth Development Medical Programs-Assistant Director

Morgan Biele

Andrea is the current office manager at all Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Programs watching over the development of our Business, Legal, and Medical education programs at Georgetown University.

Over the course of this past year, she has facilitated the creation of hundreds of International Business Internship Program team and Youth Develop Program websites. Over the course of her time with Leadership Initiatives, she has grown her communication and leadership skills through her work in website development and office management.

Andrea Batoon is the Program Services Assistant Director and works on Web Development for Leadership Initiatives. She has the overall responsibility of ensuring that each student working with Leadership Initiatives has a platform that properly showcases their accomplishments.

Program Services-Assistant Director

Andrea Batoon

At a very young age, she was introduced to politics and community service, something that has always been present in her life since then, and which she would further like to implement in her career. Cristina has been able to grow as an individual and to expand her knowledge and understanding of things, because of her participation in such amazing programs, especially the IBIP Program and Youth Development Program.

Cristina is the second born in her family of four siblings and has been raised in Puerto Rico. Currently, she is a sophomore at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus and is majoring in Industrial Engineering with a curricular sequence in International Relations.

Cristina Martin Ortiz is the Assistant Director of the National Security and Intelligence Summit & the International Business Leadership Summit. She works directly with Marshall Bailly in planning, creating, and executing the summits.

Assistant Director of the National Security and Intelligence Summit

Cristina Martin

She firmly believes that one key to success is truly recognizing our own strengths and weaknesses and understanding the role they play in reaching our personal aspirations. Sarah places emphasis on communicating with IIP on a one-to-one, personalized basis and looks forward to developing and enhancing her role in LI.

She has worked in every area of the healthcare spectrum and specializes in the creation of highly individualized treatment plans designed to identify goals and to develop clear, realistic, and effective strategies to meet them.

Sarah Agar holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Gettysburg College and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and is licensed as a Graduate Social Worker.

Student Counselor

Sarah Agar, MSW, LMSW

Gabriela is excited to continue planning Leadership Initiatives 2021 programs and is looking forward to helping others find their true passion!

Gabriela has worked with Leadership Initiatives for over three years, both as a student, an intern, and now a staff member. Since joining the team in 2019, Gabriela has helped run the Advanced Law & Trial Internship Program during the summer as well as the International Law & Advocacy Internship Program during the school year. She brings a strong background that includes research, design, and information technology.

Gabriela strongly believes in the power of community service and helping others. She is attending the George Washington University to study Peace Studies and International Affairs with a concentration in International Development. She is a member of GW’s Model United Nations team and GW’s UNICEF chapter.

International Law & Advocacy Internship Program-Assistant Director

Gabriela Zeidler

Kurt is excited to continue working with Leadership Initiatives, where he can continue to help future leaders take their confident first step into the world.

Kurt has worked with Leadership Initiatives for almost three years, having first begun his experience with LI in the IIP program during high school. Kurt is now using the knowledge and experience he’s gained to help students ensure they can be accepted to the college or university that will best prepare them for their bright futures.

Kurt Hammen serves as the College Admissions Program Officer and has the responsibility of ensuring that every student in LI’s programs has access to the best resources available to prepare for the college Admissions Process, such as facilitating one-on-one meetings with college admissions advisors and experts.

College Admissions Program Officer

Kurt Hammen

As Nick attends the University of Florida this fall to study business, he looks forward to utilizing the skills he learned from Leadership Initiatives.

Nick has worked with Leadership Initiatives for the past 3 years. He began as a rising junior at a Leadership Initiatives Youth Development Program. Nick then started an IBIP team in his hometown and acted as the Team Lead for two years. He joined the LI internship team in September 2018.

Nicholas Soviero is a Leadership Initiatives staff member who mainly focuses on the National Security and Business Programs. He works as a team lead for both of these programs. Throughout the school year, Nick mainly focuses on accounting and website work.

Youth Development Program Team Lead

Nicholas Soviero

Contact Us

4410 Massachusetts Ave., NW #236

Washington, DC  20016

info@lichange.org

202-738-1115

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